The fortunes of Portugal’s nationwide workforce have been inextricably linked with Cristiano Ronaldo for almost twenty years.
Is a brand new period upon us?
Ronaldo was in tears as he made his approach to the locker room following Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Morocco within the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.
It stays to be seen if that was the final time the world noticed Ronaldo on soccer’s worldwide stage. If it’s, it marks an enormous second for the Portugal workforce, given Ronaldo is its captain, report scorer and best ever participant.
There’s an opportunity the workforce may additionally have a special coach for the primary time since 2014 when qualification for the 2024 European Championship begins in March.
EXPECTATION VS. PERFORMANCE
Reaching the quarterfinals was the minimal anticipated of Portugal contemplating the depth of expertise in its squad. The workforce sailed via the group section by successful its opening two video games. Coach Fernando Santos rotated most of his beginning lineup for the ultimate group-stage match in opposition to South Korea, which received 2-1 on a late objective, after which thrashed Switzerland 6-1 within the spherical of 16. Despite Morocco’s robust protection and standing because the shock of the event, Portugal was nonetheless anticipated to beat the North African nation within the quarterfinals so, in that sense, it’s one other missed alternative and doubtless an general underperformance by Ronaldo and his workforce.
WHO’S OUT
The world is ready to see if the 37-year-old Ronaldo retires from worldwide responsibility after scoring 118 objectives — a report in males’s soccer — and making 196 appearances in his 19 years with the nationwide workforce. If Ronaldo does proceed, almost definitely it’s just for Euro 2024 and never additionally the 2026 World Cup, by which period he can be aged 41. At 39, heart again Pepe is more likely to have performed his remaining main event. What’s extra doubtful is the way forward for Santos, who took cost of Portugal in 2014 after 4 years on the helm of Greece’s nationwide workforce. He has a contract via 2024 and repeatedly deflected any discuss leaving his put up earlier after the loss to Morocco. “I will have a discussion with the (Portuguese soccer federation) president and when we go back to Portugal, we will deal with the issue of the contract,” Santos stated.
WHO’S NEXT
A future with out Ronaldo could be an alarming proposition however there’s expertise coming via. Up entrance, there’s the 21-year-old Gonçalo Ramos, who scored a hat trick in opposition to Switzerland when standing in for Ronaldo in his first begin for the nationwide workforce. There’s a lot pleasure in regards to the growth of António Silva, a 19-year-old heart again at Benfica who appears the pure alternative for Pepe — a participant greater than twice Silva’s age. João Félix is barely 23 so has time on his aspect, whereas full backs Diogo Dalot and Nuno Mendes are solely 23 and 20, respectively.
WHAT’S NEXT
With or with out Ronaldo, Portugal is the favourite in a kind-looking qualifying group for Euro 2024. Portugal opens group play in March with a house match in opposition to Liechtenstein. The different groups in Group J are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Slovakia and Luxembourg. If Portugal reaches the event in Germany, anticipate the workforce to be among the many favorites — even with out its most well-known participant.
